09.30.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Real Estate tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Divorce is hard enough without having to deal with the frustration of dividing assets. However, when it comes to valuable items such as property, you need to make sure you’re taking the logistical steps necessary to appraise and distribute your Ridgeland MS real estate.
Determining Value
- Hire an appraiser – If you and your soon-to-be ex can’t come to an agreement on the value of your home, then you might want to consider employing an appraiser to come to a decision for you.
- Get help from a real estate agent – A more cost-effective, but maybe not the most precise, way to determine the value of your property is to ask Ridgeland MS real estate agents to estimate the cost. They’ll usually charge you little to nothing, and you can use this as a way to interview agents to sell your home.
Evaluating Equity
- Calculate the true value – Computing the equity of your home is essential to figuring out how much it’s worth. Take the home’s value and subtract how much you still owe in mortgages, equity loans and secured lines of credit.
- Figure out non-marital vs. marital equity – In equitable property states, non-marital equity (such as assets acquired before marriage, prenuptial exclusions, gifts, personal injury settlements and inheritance) remains yours and is set aside from the communal marital assets.
Dividing Assets
- Know the difference between the title and mortgage – Many people try to have their name removed from the title thinking it will exempt them from the debt of the mortgage — this is incorrect. The title lists the legal owner and the mortgage lists parties responsible for payment. If one party is awarded the home, then you must refinance for it to be reflected on the mortgage.
- Sell and divide the proceeds – Put your home on the market for an immediate sale, and after all the costs have been deducted, divide what’s left.
When dividing assets during a divorce, an immediate sale isn’t the only option. You can award the house to one party and compensate the other with money or other valuable assets.
If you’re going through a divorce and need help deciding how to proceed with your Ridgeland MS real estate, I’m happy to help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@KeyTrustProperties.com for more information.
Paula Ricks Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
220 W Jackson St, Suite 200, Ridgeland MS 39157
601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
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Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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09.19.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Real Estate tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Before you put your home on the market, you want to make certain that it’s in tip-top condition to ensure a quick sale. The key to listing your home at a competitive price and guaranteeing you have what buyers are looking for is to think like a Ridgeland MS real estate agent.
To get your home ready to sell, here are five easy and inexpensive home improvements this Ridgeland MS real estate agent recommends:
- Layout – Take an objective look at your home and stage accordingly. Remove clutter and rearrange so that potential buyers can envision each room for its purpose. Also, store any obtrusive furniture that disrupts walking flow or makes rooms look smaller.
- Hardware – Update all hardware. Changing out door handles, drawer pulls and light fixtures is an easy way to modernize your home while costing little money.
- Charm – Play up the unique features of your home. Refinish hardwood floors if scuffed, remove excess objects from built-in bookshelves and clean unique light fixtures. It’s these irreplaceable elements that make your home stand out from other homes and hook buyers.
- Scent – Eliminate all bad odors like pet scent, stale cooking odors and cigarette smoke. Just lighting candles or spraying air freshener won’t work. Clean, deodorize and get rid of rugs or other cloth objects that still smell bad.
- Curb Appeal – Spend some time sprucing up the yard. It’s the first impression buyers will have, and although the house might be in mint condition, a lots-of-work lawn could instill a negative notion before they even step a foot inside your home.
Buyers’ needs vary in every market. However, buyers will always consider these five features before they buy. So, stay one step ahead of the game and ensure your house is up to par with buyers’ expectations.
If you’re getting ready to sell your home and are looking for a Ridgeland MS real estate agent who represents buyers and sellers in the Tri-County area, one who can help you sell your home fast and for top-dollar, I’d be honored to be interviewed for the job.
To find out how you can receive a free verbal home staging consultation, give me a call at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@KeyTrustProperties.com.
Paula Ricks Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
220 W Jackson St, Suite 200, Ridgeland MS 39157
601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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04.15.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Spring is here and there is no better time to give your yard a fresh look. Here are a few simple tips to make your Ridgeland MS home sparkle this spring.
Tip #1: Everything is blooming; take advantage of it.
Clean out the flower beds and let them shine. Don’t have a flower bed? Now is the perfect time to create one (or more). Visit your local nursery to purchase small starter plants, large mature plants and everything in between. Mix them to make your beds look their best.
Tip #2: Get a lush lawn.
Reseed your yard, or if you don’t want to wait, purchase sod rolls. If your lawn is in good shape, take the time to edge the sidewalks and driveway. Mow in a pattern to give your lawn a manicured look. To keep your grass healthy, alternate the mowing pattern.
Tip #3: Take it up a notch.
Add little touches like decorative edging, mulch and walkway lights. Put edging around trees and shrubs then fill with mulch. Easy to install walkway lights along the driveway and sidewalk add style and security. Don’t forget the porch light. A new light fixture with a high and low beam saves energy, provides security, and lets buyers see your Ridgeland MS home easily in the evening.
Dressing your Ridgeland MS home for spring helps it stand out from the competition. Read six myths about professionally staging your home. Home staging gets buyers excited about seeing the interior of your home. Ask me about a free verbal home staging consultation.
Want some specific ideas on how to make your home sparkle this spring so it sells faster? Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
REALTOR® and Broker Associate
443A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-942-3392
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
www.PaulaRicks.com
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Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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04.11.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Today’s turbulent real estate market means the days of selling Ridgeland MS homes without any planning or preparation are a distant memory for most people. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, because there is tons of competition and buyers are not hunting Ridgeland MS homes in a hurry like they once were. To sell your house quickly, staging and well-thought-out marketing plans are now necessities — not luxuries.
Do you know how to best present your property? What are the most effective ways to get buyers in the door? Using the tips and techniques below, you can begin to emerge from your rabbit hole and quickly move on to your next home with as much money in your pocket as possible.
Selling techniques for Ridgeland MS homes:
- Price it Right – No amount of marketing or staging will help if your property is overpriced. For most people, it’s hard to look at their home objectively. Compare it to other properties for sale in your neighborhood, and take into account square footage, upgrades, location, and amenities, as well as, current market trends.
- Develop a Marketing Plan – You have to decide the best and most cost-effective way to get potential buyers in your house. Rarely is a newspaper ad or an Internet posting enough. Today’s competitive real estate environment requires more aggressive techniques which includes everything from social media marketing to prompt follow-up chats with potentially interested buyers.
- Stage your Home – You want your home to appear its best every time a potential buyer comes to see it. If buyers see dirt and stains, they might begin to wonder about how diligently the rest of the property has been maintained. De-clutter and depersonalize. Turn on all your lights and open all the blinds to make your house appear as light and open as possible. For open houses, take the extra time to add fresh flowers, build a fire in the fireplace and have something baking in the oven.
Do you need egg-stra help preparing your home for sale? Find out how you can receive a FREE Verbal Home Staging Consultation to help get your home sold faster. Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
REALTOR® and Broker Associate
443A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-942-3392
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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03.16.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Selling a Ridgeland MS home for sale by owner takes a lot of time, energy and expertise. You need to know how to set a fair market value for your home, promote your home to pull qualified buyers and negotiate the final terms and sales price.
One of the most important skills you need to learn in order to find qualified buyers for your Ridgeland MS home for sale by owner is how to sort out the lookers from the serious buyers.
Lookers are people who aren’t serious about buying a home. At the least, they waste your time and energy. At the worst, lookers could be a security problem. They could be checking out your home to determine if you have valuables worth stealing.
Serious buyers are people who are interested in buying a home within 30 to 90 days and are pre-approved for a mortgage. Spend your time and energy on these individuals.
So, how do you identify qualified buyers? Before scheduling a time to show your Ridgeland MS home for sale by owner to potential buyers, ask them these four questions:
- Are you pre-approved for a mortgage? If they’re pre-approved for a mortgage, they’re serious about buying a home. If buyers aren’t pre-approved, suggest they contact a mortgage specialist and get back in touch with you when they have their pre-approval letter. Mortgage specialists check the buyer’s credit score, income and debt ratios. They also verify that the buyer has enough money for down payment and closing costs.
- How much are you pre-approved for? Make sure they’ve been approved for a big enough loan to be able to afford your home. If your home is valued at $500,000 and they’re only pre-approved for $150,000, they cannot afford your home unless they can pay the difference in cash. If the buyer is purchasing your home with cash, or using cash for a large down payment, ask the buyer for a bank statement to verify his or her funds.
- Do you have your pre-approval letter? Verify that they are pre-approved for the amount they say they are. Ask the buyers to email or fax their pre-approval letter to you or bring it with them when they tour your home.
- What’s your possession deadline? Your move-out timeframe needs to be close to the buyer’s move-in deadline. How close? Close enough to negotiate the difference. If they don’t want to take possession of your home for 6 months, and you need to sell immediately, they’re not a serious buyer for your home.
To successfully sell your home, you need to know if a potential buyer is qualified to buy your home. The sooner you know this, the less time you’ll waste chasing after lookers and unqualified buyers.
Tired of going it alone? If you’d rather have an experienced Ridgeland MS real estate agent handle everything for you from finding qualified buyers to negotiating the sales contract, give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
REALTOR® and Broker Associate
443A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-942-3392
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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01.13.11
Posted in Ridgeland MS Real Estate tagged Ridgeland MS real estate buyers, Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Times change but not always for the best. Consider the change we’ve seen in attitudes toward Ridgeland MS real estate over the last few decades.
Owners used to love their homes because they were their safe havens. Many now only worry about whether or not their houses will appreciate enough in value to allow them to refinance to buy luxury vacations in Hawaii or a new car.
What’s your stance on the Ridgeland MS real estate you own or wish to own some day? Is it a house or a home to you? There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, simply a varying point of view.
It’s a house if you:
- Bought it because you want to build equity
- Value it most because of its monetary value
- Worry primarily about it because it might lose some of its value in today’s market
- Appreciate it if it gives you short term profit
- Like the neighborhood because it increases the market value of your property
- Plan to sell when you can make the biggest profit
It’s a home if you:
- Bought it because you want to build a happy life there
- Value it most because of its emotional value
- Worry primarily about it because without it you wouldn’t have a roof over your head
- Appreciate it if it gives you long term profit
- Like the neighborhood because of the people who live there
- Plan to sell when your lifestyle needs change
Personally, I’m nostalgic for the days when a house was called a home because of the love that was inside.
Whether you’re interested in buying Ridgeland MS real estate as an investment or a home, I can help you achieve your goals. Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate buyers,
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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12.09.10
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Selling your home takes more effort than simply listing your Ridgeland MS home for sale in an MLS and placing a For Sale sign in the front yard. You have to showcase your home in a way that makes potential buyers desire it.
One of the best ways to create this desire is to stage your home so that buyers can see themselves living in it. Here are the 10 most important things to do when staging your Ridgeland MS home for sale.
- Remove personal touches. Buyers want to picture themselves in your home, not you and your family. Remove family photos, memorabilia and collections.
- De-clutter. Clear the bathroom and kitchen counters. Take knickknacks off the shelves. Pack away half of the kids’ toys.
- Organize your cabinets and closets. Take the time to neatly stack dishes and fold towels. Arrange your spices and canned goods. Interested buyers will look in all your cabinets and closets.
- Make minor repairs. Go through your home and take care of issues like stuck drawers, missing cabinet hardware, and leaky faucets. This shows potential buyers that you meticulously care for your home.
- Clean. Scrub every inch of your home. Remove cobwebs and the dust collected on your ceiling fans. Scour the grout on the bathroom floor. Replace worn rugs. Hang fresh towels. Clean out your refrigerator.
- Freshen your yard. Remove and replace dead or dying plants. Trim hedges. Rake leaves. Clean the windows.
- Get rid of odors. Take out the trash daily and avoid cooking with strong foods or spices. Place potpourri or wall air fresheners strategically throughout your home.
- Think neutral. Neutral colors sell homes. Go ahead and repaint your rooms with a neutral color, especially if your home is decorated with very personal colors or wallpaper designs.
- Make your rooms look bigger. Take extra leaves out of your dining room table. Remove the extra chairs and bookcases in your living room.
- Rent a storage unit. Don’t stuff your garage with all those items you packed away or removed from your rooms to make them look bigger. Keep your garage looking great by moving the boxes and furniture to a storage unit.
Let me help you stage your Ridgeland MS home for a fast sale. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com to schedule an appointment.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
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Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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10.22.10
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate agents, Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
It’s a war out there. If you’re still sitting in your robe and slippers, sipping a cup o’ joe while you casually read the Sunday comics – with the absolute knowledge that your house is going to sell – you haven’t been paying attention. The rate of Ridgeland MS homes for sale versus qualified potential buyers has made this an extreme buyer’s market.
It’s time for some tough love, sellers – some straight talk.
If you’re not ready to do more than spruce up your lawn a little, you won’t win the battle. You won’t even win a skirmish. In short, if you’re not doing everything you can (or pushing your agent about him doing everything he can) to get your home taken off the list of Ridgeland MS homes for sale, you’re not a motivated seller.
Motivated sellers use all the knowledge they can squeeze from their agent. Unless it’s a matter of money (they don’t have any), they don’t argue when the agent mentions things like home staging. They ask, “What are my options?”
Motivated sellers don’t think “negotiation” is a bad word. They consider it common business sense. For example, if a home inspector looks your home over and notices a few issues, offer to fix those issues immediately. If a potential buyer offers you $5,000 less than your listed price, actually think about it. You may not get another buyer anytime soon.
Motivated sellers don’t consider taking photos of the house “a waste of time,” or posting them online as “useless.” They listen to real estate agents (their own or in posts like these) and do what they can to implement what’s been learned.
If you aren’t a motivated seller, why is your home listed? Now isn’t the time to test the waters, because the waters are full of sharks, barracudas and other dangerous things with big teeth. Before you wonder why that house of yours is still one of the Ridgeland MS homes for sale, think about it. Are you a motivated seller?
If you’re a motivated seller looking for an award winning and experienced Ridgeland MS real estate agent who can help you win this war, call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com today.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate agents,
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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09.12.10
Posted in Ridgeland MS Real Estate tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 1:52 pm by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Trying to sell your Ridgeland MS real estate in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.
Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction:
1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Ridgeland MS real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.
2. Your Ridgeland MS real estate will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell. People still buy in slower markets. If your home is priced right, prepared for sale and marketed professionally, it will sell.
3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.
Using my proven marketing plan, I can help you sell your home whether it’s a slow market or a booming market. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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09.06.10
Posted in Ridgeland MS Homes for Sale tagged Ridgeland MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Today’s slow real estate market is a hard place to sell Ridgeland MS homes. However, the fact remains that homes are still being bought and sold. Buyers are out there; you just have to attract them to your home.
Here are a few tips for getting Ridgeland MS homes sold in a slow real estate market:
Prepare for the Sale
Your home needs to stand out from the rest. Give it a lot of sparkle and shine:
- Make minor repairs: Patch holes, fix faucets and replace cracked tiles.
- Clean inside and out: No cobwebs, dirty carpets, worn rugs or smelly odors.
- Check your curb appeal: Mow the lawn, plant flowers, trim bushes, etc.
- Remove clutter and de-personalize: If it isn’t essential, pack it up or get rid of it.
- Straighten your cabinets and closets: Buyers will open them; make sure they’re nice and neat.
Stage Your Home
Hire a professional home stager or read informational home staging articles on doing it yourself. Here are a few quick tips:
- Carefully choose your window coverings.
- Tie new bathroom towels with ribbons for a “finished” bathroom look.
- Use color psychology.
- Bring in plants.
Use Good Marketing Techniques
A strong marketing campaign is a must. A few techniques you want to be sure you or your agent includes in your marketing campaign are:
- Take photographs with good lighting that show off the positive aspects of your home.
- Create a virtual tour that showcases both the inside and outside of your home.
- Display the photos and virtual tour on as many real estate websites as possible.
Selling Ridgeland MS homes isn’t a quick or easy endeavor. Especially now, aggressive marketers are the winners. Taking the time to clean and stage your home, as well as create a wide-reaching marketing campaign, can get that for sale sign taken down for good.
If you’d like to sell your home, let me create a strong, wide-reaching marketing campaign to get your home sold. Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Ridgeland MS real estate sellers
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